The forest guardian deftly leads the group of Pathfinders through the unsettling maze. Many of you become disoriented or even confused as to what direction you are headed, but somehow Stormy guides the team maintaining a steadfast pace all the while. Nearly an hour after leaving the festive revelers, you come upon the next chamber.
This chamber is furnished to resemble the parlor of an upscale brothel, but it is covered in a thin layer of dust. Shelves holding various trinkets, ships in bottles, and decorative glassware line the walls. A table and three large chairs, all made of fine mahogany, sit in the western end of the room. Garlands of dried flowers surround a fancy ceramic urn on the table. To the north, a short flight of stone steps extend to a raised area obscured by an emerald-colored lace curtain. Bronze statues of women in sailor’s garb with hollow eye sockets stand at the base of the dais. Each of the statues is covered in a green patina. Sad, brooding music fills the chamber, emanating from a quartet of ghostly musical instruments that float several feet off the floor.
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”Well I don’t know anything about most of the room, but those statues are actually celedons. Their markings make it clear they are dedicated to Besmara. The hollow eye sockets are a sign that something is severely wrong with these guardians and I suspect they may be approaching a crisis of faith. Furthermore, you know that should the celedon abandon their faith, they explode and leave a mindless husk.”
Cenae waits for her allies to enter.
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"What I want to know is how we've been wandering through this labyrinth for hours! It's got to be some enchantment of some sort, right? There's no way this Gloomspire actually contains this much space. It's bigger on the inside, isn't it?" Kasvot clearly doesn't have the mind-space right now to contemplate these celedons.
Cenea softly hums along with the music, the lyrics just escaping her. After a few moments, a beautiful woman walks through the lace curtain. Her clothing is that of a courtesan, though a few centuries removed. She watches the cleric silently a little longer before a soft smile crosses her lips. "You've heard the song before? At least some things still remain beyond this place."
The figure stays up on the raised platform. Again, she addresses Cenea. "You've an ear for music. Have you a voice to match? I bet you do. Oh what a 'companion' you would have been. In my employ, you would have made more gold than you would have known what to spend it on."
"By the tides! Where are my manners? I am Lady Kaviiri, and I...reside here. Praytell, why have you come? Traversing these halls is no easy task. Perhaps we can strike a deal?"
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Cenae moves in and bows, ”Lady Kaviiri, it is a pleasure to meet you. We are simple explorers, but are well versed in getting past challenges that would stop others. We simply look to recover an artifact that our friend lost in this spire” she points to the paladin and continues, ”he has also lost his memory of the events in here, so if you can clue us in as to what happened that would be appreciated. I’m sure my organization could work out some sort of deal if you need something in return.”
She seems to smile when the cleric points to Joahd. "And well spoken. Yes, Love, you would have made a fortune. However, I sense that you have more pressing matters at hand. Here is my offer. If you swear to your god that you will take my funerary urn from the table over there and sprinkle my ashes into the sea, I will answer three questions. What say you?"
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"Ooh? That's all? Of course she will bless putting your spirit to rest. I do so solemnly swear on the name of the Lady of Light, Sarenrae, to sprinkle your ashes into the sea. Now, where is the Orb of Stars?" She gives a description of the artifact.
She also moves over to the table and grabs the urn, beginning to pack it away for safe transport.
She watches as the Sarenrite secures the remains. Afterwards, she nods with a smile, "Ask your questions. Remember, three only."
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Kasvot steps up and throws his arms in the air to get the other Pathfinders' attention. "Ooooh, we need to be careful here, and make sure we ask the right questions. I hate these kinds of question rules," he glares at their host briefly; "always so tricksy!"
"So, we definitely want to know what Cenae already asked: where the Orb of Stars is. We also need to know what happened to the other Pathfinder expedition. Finally, I guess we can seek an answer about old Joahd here. I'm being careful here to not speak with any question marks, in case the ancient biddy tries to tick one off early, so offer your agreement or disagreement in similar fashion." He gives the Lady Kaviiri another suspicious glare.
The Lady's demeanor instantly sours. It is clear she has taken offense at the lack of respect demonstrated. "Ancient biddy! Why I never!"
At the sound and tone of her voice, the celedons seem to tremble awake. While not moving, it is clear the tenor of conversation is changing, perhaps irreparably so.
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Cenae frowns at the comment from the sorcerer, obviously he clearly intended the insult as he so carefully worded everything else, "Ma'am, he is a fool of a man. And practically a ghoul from what I hear so his brain is probably mush. Please pay no attention to him."
(+2 to influence Wayangs)
"Now as to my earlier question, where is the Orb of Stars?"
The Lady pauses and considers Cenae's words. She remains but still seems unconvinced. A breathless sigh rolls over her lips. She tilts her head to the side, thinking over her options. Finally, she relents for the moment. "I do not know of this 'Orb' you mention. However, there are a pair of creatures—an ancient spirit and his undying bride— who visit me from time to time. They dwell that way.” She points to the corridor leading north. "If there is something to be found here, they would be the ones to ask." She leans in closer to the cleric, “Careful though, dear, I think they might just gobble up someone as tasty as you.”
“Why yes! Charming guests. They passed through here a short time ago, but have not returned.” She nods at Cenea. "You are very good at this. One last question."
The playfulness exhibited toward Cenae up until this point evaporates. Her eyes drop to the floor and her shoulders slump. Lady Kaviiri shakes her head and mutters darkly, “Bad manners, my old friend. It’s good to see you after all this time, but you’ve taken a huge risk. There are bound to be consequences.” Without adding anything more, the figure turns back toward the curtain and walks away, fading from view. The instruments cease playing and fall from the air, likewise disappearing before striking the ground.
The room goes quiet.
Sensing something has changed, Jaohd asks, "What did she say? Why did she leave? We should continue before she can tell anyone else we are here! Quickly, so we can find the others."
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Cenae never takes her eyes off the 'pathfinder' as she listens to the translations.
She frowns, "Aweful big hurry there. I'm pretty sure a few minutes won't change anything. Afterall, we did spend several hours navigating this damn tomb already. So Jaohd, if that is indeed who you are, she said you were an old friend. And Kasvot seems to think you are still possessed. Also, I'm thinking you are hiding something with that sword, may I see it?"
Jaohd draws the blade slowly and offers it to the cleric. "Is that all? Well, if it will get us to the others faster, by all means, take a look at it. As to what that lady said? We came through here once. Maybe she is so addle-minded from her time here that she's cracked her pot. I'm no healer, so I have no idea. Can we go now? Every moment we delay could spell doom for the missing. We have to find them."
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She inspects it with her arcane sight first .
Then hands it off to Niza or Stormy or Kasvot, "Care to take a look at this thing? I recall he thought it was incredibly important to get it back, but then he just shoved it in his scabbard when he got it back."
She adds to Kasvot, "I thought we broke the possession. Are you saying it only temporarily suppressed it instead?"
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Kasvot takes the sword from Cenae. "Well, we used a protection from evil spell to break the possession. Niza cast the spell, so maybe she has some references that will clarify this..." He begins examining the sword as he continues speaking, casting detect magic in between thoughts. "Of course, she cast it from a scroll, so I don't know if any references are left! But my intuitive understanding of that spell is that it only suppresses a possession for the duration of the spell."
He holds the sword out for Niza or Stormy to examine.
Second, the subject immediately receives another saving throw (if one was allowed to begin with) against any spells or effects that possess or exercise mental control over the creature (including enchantment [charm] effects and enchantment [compulsion] effects, such as charm person, command, and dominate person. This saving throw is made with a +2 morale bonus, using the same DC as the original effect. If successful, such effects are suppressed for the duration of this spell. The effects resume when the duration of this spell expires. While under the effects of this spell, the target is immune to any new attempts to possess or exercise mental control over the target. This spell does not expel a controlling life force (such as a ghost or spellcaster using magic jar), but it does prevent them from controlling the target. This second effect only functions against spells and effects created by evil creatures or objects, subject to GM discretion.
While the team is sure it is magic, it is difficult to determine the exact nature of the spells used to enchant the weapon. However, Stormy is certain it is one of the most powerful weapons she has ever held.
Joahd watches the exchange between the team, but says nothing.
With the matter of Joahd temporarily settled, the team heads once again to the spirit-rending labyrinth. As you cautiously walk past the guardian statues, you detect no movement.
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Kasvot refreshes his mage armor before they head back into the labyrinth. He offers plentiful advice and commentary about the arcane nature of the place, and how it must be extraplanar in at least some sense. Some of this commentary even proves useful for navigating the space!
Gloomspires Explorer: Despite having studied only a small portion of Sevenfinger's tomb, you are now one of the Society's foremost authorities on the enigmatic Gloomspires. While adventuring in the Gloomspires, you receive at +2 bonus on all Perception checks made to find hidden objects such as traps, treasure, and secret doors. If you check the box included with this boon, you gain the benefits of this boon for the duration on one scenario set anywhere other than the Gloomspires.
After another hour, Stormy once again deftly guides the team deeper into the haunted complex. Finally, the telltale light of a chamber leaks into the dreaded labyrinth.
Three wall-mounted flaming stone braziers illuminate this unfurnished chamber. Lying on the floor in the middle of the chamber are three mangled humanoid bodies—two male humans and a female elf. Gouges and long scratch marks mar all of the walls of this stone room, as well as several areas on the floor and ceiling. A heavy black curtain cordons off the far southwest corner of the chamber.
The sorcerer approaches the gruesome find. As he looks over the bodies, he realizes that the corpses are covered in spices and seasoning.
Jaohd cries out. "By the heavens, my friends! They have truly fallen. Curse my memory! Why can't I remember what happened? We must avenge them!"
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As Kasvot moves up Niza quickly casts a spell to shield herself and then draws her rapier, "What do you see Kasvot? Why should we not join you?"
If he waves her in she inspects the bodies and then takes up a position between the group and the curtains.
She grimaces, "Eww, it's like they have been prepared for cooking. That's horrible. Jaohd, why are you grabbing your sword but not drawing it? The time is now for vengeance, draw your weapon. We shall find the enemy soon, probably behind the curtain."
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"Sorry, I was stopping the comments before they started; you can all approach. I'm just... sensitive... about dead bodies now; that's all." Kasvot waves the others in.
"Looks like they've been dead a couple of days now," he points out. "Lots of tooth and claw marks here..." he continues, with a glance at the paladin. "But some of this was the steel of a longsword, for sure."
When Niza makes her comments, Kasvot wheels in fury. "Prepared for COOKING?!? Is that joke? 'Cause it stopped being funny a long time ago!" Kasvot glares at Niza on the verge of rage. "And I didn't expect it of you, Niza; it's was always McDimple driving that particular boat down the river..."